It’s Up to Everyone to Put a Stop to Social Media Threats
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December 18, 2021It’s Up to Everyone to Put a Stop to Social Media Threats
Stopping Social Media Threats
Parents should be aware of their children's internet activities, and children should think twice before posting anything, according to Bradley Billhimer.
How can we halt the onslaught of social media threats aimed at schools? It comes down to two things, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer: parents supervising their children and kids exercising good judgment.
Billhimer said it will take a community effort to stop the activity after school officials and law enforcement spent Friday trying to reassure parents, staff, and students that the schools were safe in the wake of a TikTok challenge that suggested violence and threats against schools across the country."We have been expending more time and resources lately responding to and investigating social media threats," Billhimer said in an email on Friday, noting that he was referring to law enforcement at all levels, from the FBI and the state Office of Homeland Security to county prosecutor's offices and local police departments. "Collectively we are remaining vigilant and thoroughly investigating every threat."
Ocean County Prosecutor
"There is no margin for error as the safety of our children and everyone that works in our schools is of paramount importance," Billhimer said.
But he said parents have an important role to play in curtailing the behavior."Our jobs would be a lot easier if parents were aware of what their kids were doing and saying on social media," he said. "Parents and guardians should know what their kids are posting, what apps they are using and who their 'friends' are on these apps."
Billhimer, who has two school-aged children, is aware of the difficulties.
"I'm keenly aware that there is only so much time in a day – parenting is hard, but we all have to do our part to stem this tide of violent threats on social media," he said. "We need to teach our kids the difference between right and wrong and that there will be consequences for any behavior that puts others at risk. We share this collective responsibility."
"For all the kids attending school here in Ocean County, and for kids everywhere, you have some responsibility in this too," he said. "I urge you to think twice before you post something that could be perceived as a threat or is a threat."
"Think twice before you forward or repost someone else's threat of violence. Think about the ramifications," he said. "You should be aware that we will know about it and we will investigate." "We will follow the evidence wherever it leads us — and if it leads us to your phone or your social media account, we will see everything on your phone and in your social media history. It's all there. So please be prudent and exercise good judgment," he said.Ocean County law enforcement "will continue to hunt down every threat and investigate each to their natural conclusion," according to Billhimer.
"Whether it's a knock on the family door, a search warrant for an IP address, or a search warrant for the family home," he added, "we will continue to investigate all investigative leads and, where needed, prosecute those persons, whether adults or minors, to the fullest extent of the law." "I know that we are doing everything we can, leveraging all available resources to make sure we provide a safe environment as our kids head into school each day," he said, "but I know that we are doing everything we can, leveraging all available resources to make sure we provide a safe environment as our kids head into school each day."He reinforced the message that has prompted a number of investigations into alleged threats in different school districts across the county in recent weeks:
"Tell someone if you see something alarming on social media, any danger at all — a parent, a teacher, a guidance counselor, or a school administration. Say something if you see something. We'll find out where it is."
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